„Never smart to beef with me, what can I say?
These hoes be dumb
Bitches love to die young, look“
— Dead (ft. Summer Walker)
Seven years after her debut, the self-proclaimed rap queen has returned. On September 19, 2025, Cardi B released Am I the Drama, a sprawling 23-track album running over 70 minutes. It’s a statement-sized project, aiming to reassert her dominance in a genre that has shifted significantly since Gangsta Bitch Music Vol. 1.
Cardi B has not been absent from the spotlight in the interim. Singles like the viral smash WAP kept her cultural footprint intact, while her turbulent personal life, including three children and a high-profile, ultimately failed marriage to rapper Offset, became part of her public narrative. That personal history is woven directly into the new record. Tracks such as Man of Your Word, What’s Goin’ On, and Shower Tears channel the collapse of the relationship, balancing venomous barbs with moments of weary resolution.
Conflict is, in fact, the album’s dominant register. Am I the Drama thrives on confrontation: Cardi unleashes fury at rivals both named and unnamed. Rapper BIA receives the sharpest treatment, with a full-on diss in Pretty & Petty, where Cardi sneers: “Name five BIA songs, gun pointin’ to your head (Head) / Baow, I’m dead.” The feud, sparked by accusations of style-stealing, is only one example of the wider battles Cardi uses to fuel her writing.
Musically, the album stays faithful to her established aesthetic: bass-heavy, aggressive, and packed with quotable one-liners. Yet, the extended production period of seven years introduces a patchwork quality. Certain tracks reflect earlier eras of her career, while collaborations, such as Pick It Up featuring Selena Gomes, expand the sonic palette into more subdued territory. Cardi also makes frequent use of samples and cultural callbacks. What’s Goin’ On explicitly nods to 4 Non Blondes’ What’s Up?, lending the track an instant familiarity.
For all its brash confidence, the album’s depth is inconsistent. Cardi revels in the archetypal role of the untouchable battle rapper but rarely shows vulnerability. Political commentary is limited, surfacing in flashes like the Kamala Harris reference, “Shout out to my hoes that wear the pants like Kamala (Huh),” but never sustained. As a result, the record occasionally feels bloated, its abundance of songs diluting impact rather than strengthening it.
In a broader context, Am I the Drama highlights the challenges facing artists who build their reputations on spectacle. Cardi B rose to fame through a combination of unfiltered personality, viral moments, and undeniable charisma, but sustaining that energy across a full-length album requires more than bravado. Compared to her 2017 debut, which felt urgent and fresh, this follow-up sometimes struggles under the weight of expectation. The record mirrors a wider trend in mainstream rap: albums ballooning in length to maximize streaming numbers, often at the expense of cohesion. While Cardi remains an electrifying figure in popular culture, Am I the Drama ultimately raises the question of whether her persona is better suited to singles and moments rather than sprawling album statements.
Still, there are undeniable highlights. Cardi’s wit and razor-sharp punchlines shine in places, as on the cutting admission from Man of Your Word: “Shit, you was me but the evil version.” These moments remind listeners why she remains a defining voice in rap’s mainstream.
Ultimately, Am I the Drama is an album of scale more than cohesion. Fans will relish the sheer volume of new material, and within its 23 tracks there is something for nearly every listener. Yet, the lack of a consistent through-line prevents the project from resonating as a unified artistic statement. As a showcase of Cardi’s bravado and versatility, it succeeds. As a deeper, lasting record, it leaves more to be desired.
Score: 7/10
